song for theme #9B: Apocalypticism

“Left Behind” by Stephen P. Cook

to be sung to the tune of “Paint It Black” by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards / The Rolling Stones

The End Time¹ is right now:

Fate all sealed and signed

I’m no believer pal, I’ve been left behind²

I hear the trumpet sound, see sunrise in the west³

No Godly to be found, sinful scum all the rest

I’ve lost all thoughts of love:

Warm days soft and kind

Here it’s all push and shove, memories left behind

Innocence has ended, long strayed off the path

Consequence intended:

About to face God’s wrath

I search inside my heart:

No goodness can I find

I’m here with starving filth, I’ve been left behind

I see bad darkness fall, painful sufferin’ descends

After bright Rapture’s⁴ call, too late to make amends

I see shooting stars signal approaching doom⁵

Cold prison without bars:

Tribulation and gloom

I’m jolted by the crash, my eyes burned and blind

Firestorm then ash, all that’s left behind

The End Time is right now:

Fate all sealed and signed

I’m no believer pal:

My ashes left behind

Innocence has ended, long strayed off the path

Consequence intended:

Slammed by God’s full wrath

[two verses of humming with music]

I can’t believe I’ve been left, left behind

Left with death, left with dark

Animated life, bright sun:

Gone from the sky!

You know it’s been left out, left out, left out:

Left behind!  Yeah!

[more humming with music]

SONG—NOTES / COMMENTS

1— End Times in Judeo-Christian tradition refer to a future period of great upheaval, trial and tribulation that precede the

     prophesized coming (or second coming) of the Messiah.  Supposedly various omens will be seen confirming prophecy and

     ushering in this era (which some feel has already begun!)

2—Left Behind is the title of a series of books by Christian authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins set in the End Times in which

     Christian true believers have been taken to Heaven leaving behind a chaotic world.

3—Blowing of the trumphet and sunrise in the west are Islamic End Times prophecies.

4—Rapture is Christian belief that refers to the final resurrection or resurrection of the righteous associated with Judgment Day

     (see book of Revelation); more recently it has come to mean being taken up to Heaven.

5—This line suggests looming cosmic catastrophe in the form of space debris striking the Earth.

Comment: this theme can provide emotional armor: fortifying you against current otherwise more troubling events with the belief they are predicted precursors of End Times.  The extent to which it promotes carrying emotional baggage and inflicting new stress depends on when you believe the End will occur. If you feel the End will be very soon and act accordingly, what you neglect è high volatility è stressful consequences.